Yesterday afternoon, while working in the greenhouse, I was listening to one of my favorite radio programs; “Science Friday” on National Public Radio. Each week, for two hours, the host Ira Flatow and his guests discuss current scientific developments. The second hour on Friday was devoted to gardening. Gardening actually does involve a large amount of science, for example, the absorption of minerals, the creation of sugar during photosynthesis and the exchange of minerals and sugars during the growing processes.
Ira’s guests on the gardening segment were: Tanya Denkela author of The Gardener’s A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food and David Ellis, Director of Communications for the American Horticultural Society and editor of ” American Gardener Magazine”. They were later joined by writer and radio producer Dan Charles author of Lords of the Harvest, a book detailing the development of the first generation of genetically engineered crops.
A lot of ground was covered in this segment, it hardly felt like an hour had gone by. You certainly don’t have to be a scientist to enjoy this program as Ira makes sure the information is presented in a way we all can understand.
I’m hoping Ira Flatow will present more programs on gardening from the scientific viewpoint. For me, it was a nice change of pace from all of the lighter gardening programs we hear on the radio. If you missed Friday’s program, it will be available via podcast.
I listen to “Science Friday” Fridays from 2-4 pm on WUOM 91.7 FM public radio from the University of Michigan.